Khao Sok Bird Watching Day Trip
Escape into one of Thailand’s most spectacular rainforests on this Khao Sok Bird Watching Day Trip. Just a few hours from Phuket and Khao Lak, this private tour offers exceptional birding in pristine jungle scenery, with chances to spot hornbills, kingfishers, pittas, sunbirds, and a wide range of tropical forest species—all in a single, well-paced day.
About this tour
Khao Sok National Park is one of Southeast Asia’s oldest and most biologically rich rainforests, famous for its towering limestone cliffs, dense jungle, waterfalls, and wildlife. This full-day bird watching tour is designed for nature lovers and birders who want to experience Thailand’s southern rainforest at its best, without rushing or long multi-day commitments.
The day begins early to take advantage of peak bird activity. With an experienced English-speaking bird leader, you’ll explore forest trails, clearings, and waterways that attract an impressive diversity of birdlife. On a good day, multiple species of kingfishers can be observed, along with resident hornbills and colorful broadbills. Mammals such as gibbons and long-tailed macaques are often seen, and while rare, larger wildlife like elephants and tigers are known inhabitants of the park.
With breaks for coffee, lunch, and rest, this tour balances focused birding with comfort, making it suitable for beginners, photographers, and experienced birders alike.
The day begins early to take advantage of peak bird activity. With an experienced English-speaking bird leader, you’ll explore forest trails, clearings, and waterways that attract an impressive diversity of birdlife. On a good day, multiple species of kingfishers can be observed, along with resident hornbills and colorful broadbills. Mammals such as gibbons and long-tailed macaques are often seen, and while rare, larger wildlife like elephants and tigers are known inhabitants of the park.
With breaks for coffee, lunch, and rest, this tour balances focused birding with comfort, making it suitable for beginners, photographers, and experienced birders alike.
Birds you can spot
Abbott's babbler
Malacocincla abbotti
target
Malacocincla abbotti
target
African Palm Swift
Cypsiurus balasiensis
target
Cypsiurus balasiensis
target
Arctic Warbler
Phylloscopus borealis
target
Phylloscopus borealis
target
Ashy Drongo
Dicrurus leucophaeus
target
Dicrurus leucophaeus
target
Asian Fairy-bluebird
Lacedo pulchella
target
Lacedo pulchella
target
Asian Fairy-bluebird
Irena puella
target
Irena puella
target
Asian Glossy Starling
Aplonis panayensis
target
Aplonis panayensis
target
Banded Broadbill
Eurylaimus ochromalus
target
Eurylaimus ochromalus
target
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
target
Tyto alba
target
Bat Falcon
Macheiramphus alcinus
target
Macheiramphus alcinus
target
Black Drongo
Dicrurus macrocercus
target
Dicrurus macrocercus
target
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
target
Milvus migrans
target
Black-backed Kingfisher
Ceyx erithaca
target
Ceyx erithaca
target
Black-capped Kingfisher
Halcyon pileata
target
Halcyon pileata
target
Black-naped Monarch
Hypothymis azurea
target
Hypothymis azurea
target
Black-shouldered Kite
Elanus caeruleus
target
Elanus caeruleus
target
Black-thighed Falconet
Microhierax fringillarius
target
Microhierax fringillarius
target
Blue-eared Kingfisher
Alcedo meninting
target
Alcedo meninting
target
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Merops philippinus
target
Merops philippinus
target
Blue-winged Leafbird
Chloropsis cochinchinensis
target
Chloropsis cochinchinensis
target
Brahminy Kite
Haliastur indus
target
Haliastur indus
target
Bronzed Drongo
Dicrurus aeneus
target
Dicrurus aeneus
target
Brown Fish Owl
Ketupa zeylonensis
target
Ketupa zeylonensis
target
Brown Shrike
Lanius cristatus
target
Lanius cristatus
target
Brown-breasted Bulbul
Pycnonotus blanfordi
target
Pycnonotus blanfordi
target
Brown-throated Sunbird
Anthreptes malacensis
target
Anthreptes malacensis
target
Buff-rumped Woodpecker
Meiglyptes tukki
target
Meiglyptes tukki
target
Buff-spotted Flameback
Chrysocolaptes lucidus
target
Chrysocolaptes lucidus
target
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
Merops leschenaulti
target
Merops leschenaulti
target
Chinese Pond Heron
Ardeola bacchus
target
Ardeola bacchus
target
Common Flameback
Dinopium javanense
target
Dinopium javanense
target
Common Iora
Aegithina tiphia
target
Aegithina tiphia
target
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
target
Alcedo atthis
target
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
target
Actitis hypoleucos
target
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
target
Sterna hirundo
target
Crested Finchbill
Platylophus galericulatus
target
Platylophus galericulatus
target
Crested Serpent Eagle
Spilornis cheela
target
Spilornis cheela
target
Crimson Sunbird
Aethopyga siparaja
target
Aethopyga siparaja
target
Diard's Trogon
Phaenicophaeus diardi
target
Phaenicophaeus diardi
target
Dollarbird
Eurystomus orientalis
target
Eurystomus orientalis
target
Emerald Dove
Chalcophaps indica
target
Chalcophaps indica
target
Forest Owlet
Dendronanthus indicus
target
Dendronanthus indicus
target
Great Hornbill
Buceros bicornis
target
Buceros bicornis
target
Great Slaty Woodpecker
Anorrhinus galeritus
target
Anorrhinus galeritus
target
Great Slaty Woodpecker
Mulleripicus pulverulentus
target
Mulleripicus pulverulentus
target
Greater Coucal
Centropus sinensis
target
Centropus sinensis
target
Greater Coucal
Clamator coromandus
target
Clamator coromandus
target
Greater Green Leafbird
Chloropsis sonnerati
target
Chloropsis sonnerati
target
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus paradiseus
target
Dicrurus paradiseus
target
Green Broadbill
Calyptomena viridis
target
Calyptomena viridis
target
Green Oriole
Oriolus tenuirostris
target
Oriolus tenuirostris
target
Green-billed Malkoha
Phaenicophaeus tristis
target
Phaenicophaeus tristis
target
Green-eared Barbet
Gecinulus viridis
target
Gecinulus viridis
target
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
target
Motacilla cinerea
target
Grey-and-buff Woodpecker
Hemicircus concretus
target
Hemicircus concretus
target
Grey-breasted Spiderhunter
Arachnothera affinis
target
Arachnothera affinis
target
Hooded Pitta
Pitta sordida
target
Pitta sordida
target
Indian Roller
Coracias benghalensis
target
Coracias benghalensis
target
Indian Scops Owl
Otus bakkamoena
target
Otus bakkamoena
target
Lesser Coucal
Centropus bengalensis
target
Centropus bengalensis
target
Little Spiderhunter
Arachnothera longirostra
target
Arachnothera longirostra
target
Ochraceous Bulbul
Alophoixus ochraceus
target
Alophoixus ochraceus
target
Oriental Hobby
Falco severus
target
Falco severus
target
Oriental pied hornbill
Anthracoceros albirostris
target
Anthracoceros albirostris
target
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
target
Pandion haliaetus
target
Pacific Baza
Aviceda leuphotes
target
Aviceda leuphotes
target
Pacific Swallow
Hirundo tahitica
target
Hirundo tahitica
target
Pacific Swift
Apus pacificus
target
Apus pacificus
target
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
target
Falco peregrinus
target
Plain Sunbird
Anthreptes simplex
target
Anthreptes simplex
target
Plaintive Cuckoo
Cacomantis merulinus
target
Cacomantis merulinus
target
Puff-throated babbler
Pellorneum ruficeps
target
Pellorneum ruficeps
target
Red-bearded Bee-eater
Nyctyornis amictus
target
Nyctyornis amictus
target
Red-eyed Bulbul
Pycnonotus brunneus
target
Pycnonotus brunneus
target
Red-wattled lapwing
Vanellus indicus
target
Vanellus indicus
target
Rufous-backed Sibia
Pteruthius flaviscapis
target
Pteruthius flaviscapis
target
Rufous-headed hornbill
Berenicornis comatus
target
Berenicornis comatus
target
Rufous-winged Shrike-Babbler
Pteruthius aenobarbus
target
Pteruthius aenobarbus
target
Rusty-breasted Cuckoo
Hierococcyx nisicolor
target
Hierococcyx nisicolor
target
Rusty-naped pitta
Blythipicus rubiginosus
target
Blythipicus rubiginosus
target
Scaly-breasted Munia
Lonchura punctulata
target
Lonchura punctulata
target
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
Dicaeum trigonostigma
target
Dicaeum trigonostigma
target
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
Dicaeum cruentatum
target
Dicaeum cruentatum
target
Seychelles Sunbird
Anthreptes rhodolaemus
target
Anthreptes rhodolaemus
target
Silver-rumped Spinetail
Hemiprocne longipennis
target
Hemiprocne longipennis
target
Stripe-throated Bulbul
Pycnonotus finlaysoni
target
Pycnonotus finlaysoni
target
Sumatran Coucal
Phaenicophaeus sumatranus
target
Phaenicophaeus sumatranus
target
Sumatran Trogon
Harpactes oreskios
target
Harpactes oreskios
target
Sunda Pygmy Babbler
Tricholestes criniger
target
Tricholestes criniger
target
Thick-billed Green Pigeon
Treron curvirostra
target
Treron curvirostra
target
Vernal Hanging Parrot
Loriculus vernalis
target
Loriculus vernalis
target
Whiskered Treeswift
Hemiprocne comata
target
Hemiprocne comata
target
White-breasted Waterhen
Amaurornis phoenicurus
target
Amaurornis phoenicurus
target
White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
target
Halcyon smyrnensis
target
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareola
target
Tringa glareola
target
Yellow-bellied Spiderhunter
Arachnothera flavigaster
target
Arachnothera flavigaster
target
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Pycnonotus goiavier
target
Pycnonotus goiavier
target
Itinerary ▼
Day 1
Detailed Itinerary
05:00 – Pick-up from your hotel in Khao Lak and transfer to Khao Sok National Park
• Early birding en route
• Breakfast on the way
• Target species include hornbills, pittas, sunbirds, kingfishers, broadbills, and woodpeckers
09:30 – Coffee break
10:00 – Second bird watching session
• Forest trails and key habitats
12:00 – Lunch
13:30 – Afternoon bird watching program
• Continued exploration of different areas and elevations
17:00 – End of program and transfer back to your hotel
Remark:
• Pick-up from Phuket and Krabi around 04:00 AM
• Transfer time approximately 3 hours
• Early birding en route
• Breakfast on the way
• Target species include hornbills, pittas, sunbirds, kingfishers, broadbills, and woodpeckers
09:30 – Coffee break
10:00 – Second bird watching session
• Forest trails and key habitats
12:00 – Lunch
13:30 – Afternoon bird watching program
• Continued exploration of different areas and elevations
17:00 – End of program and transfer back to your hotel
Remark:
• Pick-up from Phuket and Krabi around 04:00 AM
• Transfer time approximately 3 hours
Locations & map
Open in MapsIncluded
- English-speaking bird leader
- Park entrance fee (400 THB per person)
- Transportation
- Meals, fruits, coffee, and tea
- Refreshments
- Bird checklist
- Insurance
- VAT 7%
Not included
- Personal expenses
- Tips and gratuities